The UK government is set to slash the number of foreign countries on the “red alert” COVID pandemic list from 54 to around a dozen.
Currently, travellers from red-list countries must spend 11 nights in quarantine in a government-designated hotel at the cost of £2,285.
Those arriving from countries on the green list do not have to go into quarantine, while Brits returning from countries on the amber list who have not been double vaccinated will be allowed to self-isolate at home for 10 days.
Having said that, the often confusing amber element of the traffic lights system is to be scrapped from today, with countries either on the red list or the green list.
Among the countries expected to move from the red list to the green list are popular holiday destinations, Mexico and South Africa. Some sources suggest the number of countries on the red list will be reduced to just nine.
Everyone's saying that Mexico is coming off the red list this week! Really hope it's in time for our holiday in 6 weeks!! ????????@grantshapps cmon dude.. be cool. Make it happen.
— Victoria (@victoriajane6) October 4, 2021
Travellers coming from countries not on the red list can enter the UK without a pre-departure test. There will be no change for those arriving from red list countries.
The changes, if enacted, should provide a lift to travel companies that have already seen a surge in late bookings.
The Times newspaper reported that Steve Heapy, the chief executive of Jet2 PLC (AIM:JET2), revealed Jet2 saw "a huge jump" in bookings across all seasons, "but October and the October half-term really stood out with bookings almost trebling".
The reports more or less coincided with the release of “wave 32” of UBS's Evidence Lab Global Travel Restrictions Monitor, which analyses travel restrictions for 247 countries/regions, and over 60,000 travel routes.
The latest monitor report continues to show high levels of travel restrictions.
“As of 13 September 2021, global travel restrictions remained on 84% of routes (same as at 16 August). Travel restrictions for G20 routes remained similar at 94% of routes (vs 94% on 16 August). Intra-EU travel restrictions continued to see a slow upward trend and rose from 88% to 89% of routes,” UBS reported.
"G20 travel restrictions were at 94% (13 September) vs 94% on 16 August. France has the greatest number of travel restrictions at 346 (vs 353 on 16 August). India continues to have the fewest travel restrictions at 322. Intra-EU travel restrictions as of 13 September increased slightly to 89% of routes (vs 88% on 16 August),” it added.